Green Tractors

[Awd79 30]

Can we talk about them? 
 

Specifically a 425 

 

Looking for a small estate tractor that can do it all well but nothing amazing. 

[ri702bill 9,696]

Nope! That is material for another Forum - if such a one exists!! 

 

Sure - just what are the intended tasks?? Perhaps there is a red WH that would "better" suit your needs......

[SylvanLakeWH 29,011]

Post / ask in this thread...

 

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/forum/6-other-brands/

 

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,622]

I moved this to the correct forum.  Also check out WFM: http://www.wfmachines.com/forums/forum.php

 

If you're referring to John Deere when you mentioned green, and if you mean a John Deere 425, then what you are wanting to talk about is one of the best L&G tractors made in 1990s.  The earlier 425s had plastic cam gears which may or may not break around 500 to 600 hours.  Deere sells a metal replacement gear if that happens, and later 425s had the steel gears from the factory.  The engines in these are commercial grade Kawasaki engines, liquid cooled.  Bullet proof heavy duty transaxles, hydraulic lift, etc., made these great machines.

 

For even better, there was the 445 which had fuel injected and a few more added features than the 425.  And for all out great machine, the 455 added a diesel engine.  There were all wheel steer versions of all the 4X5 machines.

 

The X400 and X500 series replaced the 4X5 series and should be considered also.

 

Also maybe look at an early Kubota B series, like a B7100 or B7200.

 

 

beauty&beast.pdf x400_x500specs.pdf 199x_john_deere_gt_300_400.pdf 445 Specs.pdf

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,622]

And don't forget Ford's compact tractor offering, which had tractors close to that size and horsepower range, i.e. 1100, 1110, 1120, 1200, 1210, 1215, 1220, etc.

 

 

[Awd79 30]

Thanks folks. I’m looking at a 425 with 1,500 hrs, $2000 is the negotiated price down from $3,000. Familiar with the cam gear but don’t know its status at the moment. Still waiting on serial numbers. Has the 48” mower I want. I don’t want aws although there is one of those available near me. I hear it’s not good for ground work. And I would like to get a loader. 
 

I’m a bit torn what to do. Have JD111 with bagger mows ok, c105 mows not great, raider14 currently restoring, ex mark metro walk behind with sulky mows circles around everything. For snow removal which is my least priority I have plow or snowblower for wheel horses. 
 

My primary need is a FEL sized for small estate. Mulch, soil, compost turns etc. 

 

I was considering 425 which can mow and putting a 40 JD FEL or a little buck loader. I would be into the machine at $5,000. If it does most things well I would part with the exmark and some other machines. A kubota with loader would be ideal for just ground work but with belly mower would not be ideal on my lot. They are also about $10k in my area and at that route I’d go 0% financing and get a bx.  

Edited September 5 by Awd79

[ri702bill 9,696]

A lot of folks get a second tractor dedicated to have the FEL. It can be a PITA to switch implements from the FEL to a cutting deck and back.....

[JoeM 8,575]

Toro Wheel Horse 522XI or 520LXI are comparable sized machines for a lot less money. 

Only difference is the xi machines do not have the locking diff. 

[Awd79 30]

Never see 5 series around here. There is a GT in my area with loader for $2k I just don’t want a 50 year old FEL. I’ve got my old machines to tinker with. This machine I’m looking for something newer 20 years or less. 

[bds1984 1,503]

4 hours ago, T-Mo said:

And don't forget Ford's compact tractor offering, which had tractors close to that size and horsepower range, i.e. 1100, 1110, 1120, 1200, 1210, 1215, 1220, etc.

 

 

 

I second these.  We had a few next door to me growing up that I had the chance to operate, they were around 23-26hp and both hydro and gear models.  Both great machines!  

[JoeM 8,575]

2 hours ago, Awd79 said:

Never see 5 series around here.

20 miles west of you stevebo seems to have had several xi machines

both machines are about 20 plus years old. xi machines were made into 2006 those old 425 machine last date of mfg 2001

sounds like your set on the JD they are good ones.

[Awd79 30]

6 hours ago, JoeM said:

20 miles west of you stevebo seems to have had several xi machines

both machines are about 20 plus years old. xi machines were made into 2006 those old 425 machine last date of mfg 2001

sounds like your set on the JD they are good ones.

I like both WH and JD. 
 

haven’t looked at classifieds here. I should. 

[Awd79 30]

7 hours ago, JoeM said:

20 miles west of you stevebo seems to have had several xi machines

both machines are about 20 plus years old. xi machines were made into 2006 those old 425 machine last date of mfg 2001

sounds like your set on the JD they are good ones.

I looked and it appears @stevebo has 523xi which if I am not mistaken has not front pto

[Awd79 30]

Ok gang 

 

how do we feel about a 520xi with 2,500 hrs for $500 no attachments and no front pto. Can you add that? 

[JoeM 8,575]

10 hours ago, Awd79 said:

how do we feel about a 520xi with 2,500 hrs for $500 no attachments and no front pto.

2500........Lots of hours, the hour meter works off of the oil pressure so it not a matter of someone leaving on the key. 

518xi and 520xi machines don't have power steering. The 20HP water cooled 520LXI machines have power steering. The air cooled 522xi machines have power steering. For me a must using a loader.

If you run across a machine that needs a PTO please ask why. If someone on had a bearing failure on the clutch, it may have caused the piece on the engine that keeps it from spinning to brake off. If it is just the PTO coil was bad or clutch is worn, new ones are out there for less than $200

 

I put this loader together in 20. It is on a 520LXI machine, dedicated. Runs good, I can carry around about 500 lbs but i have had more on it but it gets a bit dicey. 

I have a 522xi for mowing. 

 

 

[sergeant 333]

On 9/4/2025 at 9:14 PM, Awd79 said:

Can we talk about them? 
 

Specifically a 425 

 

Looking for a small estate tractor that can do it all well but nothing amazing. 

See My Post here https://www.greentractortalk.com/threads/first-post-and-question-about-425.245963/page-2?post_id=4324638#post-4324638 in your Green tractor Talk thread

 

The 5Xi is a nice garden tractor. The downside is the PTO pump loader, meaning it's not as easy to remove—about 10 to 15 minutes. I basically have the same loader on my White GT2055. No traction assist on the 5Xi series, i.e., diff/lock or 4WD/AWD. Chains, AG tires, Terra grips, and weight will help with traction, but it still limits the filling capacity unless the material you're going into is loose. Traction and an easy-to-remove loader are where the Deere super garden tractors put the 5Xi to shame. Oh, you need the front PTO to run a Kwik-way Loader on a 5Xi. Now the upside of the PTO pump loader is that the raise and lower speed and dump and reset bucket speed are pretty fast compared to a Deere 40 Loader. Like I said in the thread I linked, if your primary job is mowing, skip the sub compact or above, as they will slow you down on mowing. If you went with a sub compact or above , keep your Exmark with Sulky for mowing

 

 

 

 

[Awd79 30]

8 hours ago, sergeant said:

See My Post here https://www.greentractortalk.com/threads/first-post-and-question-about-425.245963/page-2?post_id=4324638#post-4324638 in your Green tractor Talk thread

 

The 5Xi is a nice garden tractor. The downside is the PTO pump loader, meaning it's not as easy to remove—about 10 to 15 minutes. I basically have the same loader on my White GT2055. No traction assist on the 5Xi series, i.e., diff/lock or 4WD/AWD. Chains, AG tires, Terra grips, and weight will help with traction, but it still limits the filling capacity unless the material you're going into is loose. Traction and an easy-to-remove loader are where the Deere super garden tractors put the 5Xi to shame. Oh, you need the front PTO to run a Kwik-way Loader on a 5Xi. Now the upside of the PTO pump loader is that the raise and lower speed and dump and reset bucket speed are pretty fast compared to a Deere 40 Loader. Like I said in the thread I linked, if your primary job is mowing, skip the sub compact or above, as they will slow you down on mowing. If you went with a sub compact or above , keep your Exmark with Sulky for mowing

 

 

 

 

I’m heading that direction. Thx 

[Awd79 30]

So there was what I believe to be a 520xi for sale in my area by someone who had no clue what they had. Tractor, cart, and Belly deck all looked clean. Asked $275 and before I got there his brother in law took it. 
 

 

[Awd79 30]

Just now, Awd79 said:

So there was what I believe to be a 520xi for sale in my area by someone who had no clue what they had. Tractor, cart, and Belly deck all looked clean. Asked $275 and before I got there his brother in law took it. 
 

 

 

[Awd79 30]

Just now, Awd79 said:

 

I realize this doesn’t solve my loader issues but it solves my need for more red tractors. 

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,622]

From 1993, the first year of the 4X5 series: